Senior Human Resources Business Partner – Manufacturing Operations

About Us:

At Stella & Chewy’s, we are driven by a noble mission: to help pets and pet parents thrive through the love of raw nutrition. Located in Oak Creek, WI—a vibrant suburb south of Milwaukee—our workplace reflects our passion and energy. We celebrate diversity, value collaboration, and encourage authenticity. Here at Stella & Chewy’s, you’ll join a team that shows up as their best and truest selves. If that sounds like the kind of environment where you’d thrive, we’d love to have you join our pack!

Job Summary:

The Senior HR Business Partner (HRBP) – Manufacturing Operations is a key strategic leader responsible for driving HR initiatives that enhance workforce effectiveness, operational efficiency, and organizational culture in a fast-paced, high-performance manufacturing environment. As a trusted advisor to operations leadership, this role will focus on talent strategy, performance management, employee relations, workforce planning, and compliance to ensure manufacturing teams are fully supported and aligned with business objectives.

This position requires a proactive, hands-on HR leader who can influence at all levels, manage complex employee relations issues, drive cultural transformation, and champion workforce engagement.

The ideal candidate is a proven problem-solver with a deep understanding of manufacturing operations, labor laws, and HR best practices, capable of balancing strategic initiatives with hands-on execution.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic HR Leadership & Business Partnership

• Act as a trusted HR advisor and strategic thought partner to manufacturing leaders, providing guidance on workforce planning, talent strategy, and organizational design.
• Collaborate on and implement HR policies, programs, and initiatives that align with operational and business objectives, ensuring continuous improvement and workforce excellence.
• Champion a high-performance culture by embedding accountability, leadership development, and employee engagement strategies across operations.

Talent Acquisition, Development & Retention

• Partner with manufacturing leadership to identify workforce needs, recruit top talent, and build a strong pipeline of skilled production employees and operational leaders.
• Drive innovative recruitment and retention strategies to minimize turnover, optimize workforce stability, and maintain strong staffing levels in a competitive labor market.
• Partner with Learning & Development function to implement training and development programs that enhance technical skills, leadership capabilities, and regulatory compliance.
• Support succession planning and leadership development within the manufacturing team to build a strong bench of future leaders.

Employee Relations & Workplace Culture

• Serve as the primary HR contact for hourly and temporary employee workforce, operations teams, ensuring consistent application of HR policies, employment laws, and best practices.
• Lead employee relations strategies, manage complex investigations, and provide guidance on disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and grievance handling.
• Foster an inclusive and engaged workplace culture, driving initiatives that improve morale, teamwork, and employee satisfaction.

Compliance, Safety & Workforce Management

• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, as well as industry-specific safety and labor regulations.
• Partner with Safety Management to proactively address workplace safety concerns, support Workers’ Compensation cases, and oversee Leave of Absence processes, including accommodations.
• Provide oversight on compensation structures, benefits programs, and incentive plans, ensuring they are competitive and aligned with retention and organizational goals.

HR Metrics & Continuous Improvement

• Utilize HR analytics and workforce data to track trends, measure HR effectiveness, and drive informed decision-making.
• Continuously assess and improve HR processes to enhance efficiency, responsiveness, and the overall employee experience.
• Identify opportunities to integrate best-in-class HR practices that support a lean, high-performance manufacturing environment.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree or HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) preferred.
• 7-10 years of progressive HR leadership experience in a manufacturing, food production, or industrial environment.
• Deep expertise in employee relations, talent management, performance coaching, and HR compliance within a high-demand, high-velocity work setting.
• Proven ability to partner with senior leadership, influence decision-making, and drive cultural transformation in an operational setting.
• Strong working knowledge of employment laws, workforce management tools, and HRIS systems.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex situations and drive practical solutions.
• Flexible schedule to support all production shifts as needed.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) required.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to step into a high-impact HR leadership role in a company that values continuous improvement, accountability, and employee development. The right candidate will have the autonomy and support to make a lasting impact on our manufacturing workforce—helping to shape a culture of excellence, drive meaningful HR initiatives, and build a world-class operations team.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the person occupying this position. You may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by Management.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or any other status protected by law.